Not too long ago, it was rare to go a few days without rescues receiving an urgent email plea from NYC AC&C, stating that a particular animal “MUST BE PULLED BY 3 pm…” or “MUST LEAVE FOR VET ASAP.” Lately, the only “urgent” pleas that the AC&C sends out are for the occasional parvo puppy. We all assumed that there just were not that many urgent cases that were not getting pulled before hitting the “list.” We could not have been more wrong.
There is a new trend at the AC&C – silent killing. Was it brought on by the new director? Does it have anything to do with new medical staff hires? We can’t say, but we do know there is a disturbing new policy at the NYC AC&C – “humanely (quietly) euthanizing,” without sending a plea. In the past month alone, at least 7 dogs (that we know of) were destroyed at the AC&C for “medical conditions,” without a single plea or being placed on the “At Risk List.” Several others have died in their cages, after being left to suffer without any medical attention. The AC&C quietly disposed of all their bodies and thought no one would notice. Guess what? We did.
Meet Rocky, an 8 year old chi.
Rocky arrived on 6/21 when his owner suffered “personal problems.” Upon intake he was rated “average” and estimated to be 8 years old. He was adopted out during AC&C’s “Petacular Adoption Celebration” (http://on.fb.me/15AmDgX) on 6/30. The AC&C actually still has his “ADOPTED” photo on their page:
On 7/2, he was dumped back at AC&C for “nipping” and placed on a 10 day Dept of Health hold. Within a matter of days, Rocky was dead. No plea was sent to New Hope Partners. Are we to believe the AC&C’s line that he was so deathly ill that the vet at the shelter thought it best to “end his suffering?” Rocky died without so much as a whisper from those inside the shelter walls. Why?? Well, we just don’t know.
Meet Lady.
Another Chi but this time a bit older… 12. She was surrendered by her owner on 7/8 with a note listing her history and medical conditions. She suffered from seizures. Instead of a plea being sent out immediately for this poor little girl, the shelter examined her, gave her some meds, and left her to sit in a cage. I wonder if they were surprised that less than 24 hours later, she was found dead in her cage?? Probably not. Just another casualty of the NYC AC&C.
Take a look at Kiero.
He arrived at the shelter on July 9th. A beautiful, jolly looking German Shepherd. He was surrendered by his owner due to health issues. What were those issues? Well, we can not tell you because once again, he was dead within 24 hours. This happy guy was destroyed at the AC&C without a single plea going to rescues. He was killed without ever being placed on the list. When asked why, the AC&C stated ” his condition was upsetting to the staff and they made a decision to humanely euthanize him.” Call me crazy, but I have seen pleas for dogs that were stabbed, missing limbs, bones crushed, tumors the size of grapefruits hanging off their bodies …. what was sooooo upsetting about the way Kiero “looked,” that it was easier to just let him go immediately?
Poor Target….
Another senior chi had the misfortune of ending up at the AC&C on 7/20. He arrived a stray and was on a stray hold until 7/23. Target has a grade 6 heart murmur (granted, the worst you could have) but after consulting with those that know about murmurs, it was not going to cause imminent death. Many animals live for a long time with that condition and even if he only had weeks or months, he was not in pain. Know what happened when the hold expired? Did a plea go out to the New Hope Partners? No. Did he show up on the “At Risk List” on 7/24? No. He was dead before the list was even released at 5pm. They “humanely euthanized” Target after the vet decided that he was too far gone for rescue, and the ONE rescue that asked about him, declined to take him. I bet Target would have liked a warm bed for a few weeks or months and a loving foster to pamper him. I bet he would have gotten out, if only the AC&C had sent a plea. Instead, all Target got was his own black bag….
Hazel, a sweet pittie puppy…
On 7/26, Hazel, a 10 month old pittie arrived at the shelter. She had obviously eaten something she should not have and was not feeling well at all. The AC&C ran some tests and concluded that Hazel had a blockage. Many dogs survive blockages but instead of issuing an urgent plea, the medical staff “humanely euthanized” Hazel. We only know this because a New Hope Partner did inquire, though they were too late. Instead of seeing her first birthday, the light in Hazel’s eyes was permanently extinguished and she was added to the list of “unadoptable due to severe medical conditions.”
How about Marci?
On 7/29, an 8 year old Cocker Spaniel named Marci entered the shelter. She was also in distress and needed immediate medical assistance. Again, no one knew because the AC&C did not alert anyone to her needs. After living for 2 days, the only medical care she eventually received, was when they checked for a pulse that had ceased to exist. She died…. alone and frightened at the city shelter.
Today, our hearts broke for Roxxanne
On 8/1, this ADORABLE little peanut arrived at the NYC AC&C. HOW CUTE IS SHE!!!! I bet people would have lined up to foster or adopt Roxxanne. Now, the only line they can stand in is the line of people that want to know why she is dead. Why didn’t a plea go out to the rescues? How can the AC&C continue to use the line “the medical staff felt it was best to humanely euthanize due to medical,” yet never disclose what those reasons are or give the rescues the chance to fix those medical issues?
If we know about these dogs, how many more are there that we do NOT know about? When did the AC&C decide that the rescues were not smart enough to know what medical cases they could take on? Why is the AC&C “cherry picking” what medical cases they will alert New Hope rescues about? How often have we watched dogs on the “At Risk List,” for medical reasons, make amazing recoveries after seeing outside vets?
Remember Mary?
Mary’s picture as it appeared on an actual NYC AC&C plea
She could not walk at the shelter yet managed to live for quite some time once out and in foster care. Look – she even walked and ran quite often…
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.378134125544546.97551.118538508170777&type=3
Thank god the shelter sent a plea for her. If she was there today, she would be dead under their “new guidelines” and would have missed out on a lot of love.
If this is the “New and Improved” AC&C that Risa likes to talk about, our animals are in big trouble. Under Risa’s guidance, the NYC AC&C is becoming more secretive about the well-being of the animals in their care. Animals that once would have gotten out, and been given a chance at love and a real life, are dying at an alarming rate. Rescue groups provide TRUE humane euthanasia when it is the only option, quite different from the ACC’s version of “humane.” Even if these dogs had no chance at life, they deserved the opportunity to go more tenderly. The public will never know the truth because these animals, and many more, will be labeled as sick and not affect the AC&C’s laughable claim that “euthanasia of adoptable dogs is down.”
Do not let them get away with it. All animals deserve a chance and a voice. If the AC&C won’t speak for them, we need to. Please share and let the world know that NYC AC&C is a “silent killer” and needs to be stripped down and reformed.